Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the clinical and demographic variables such as body weight, dosage, family history of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and psychiatric co-morbidity on the side-effects of OROS-Methylphenidate (OROS-MPH), and to evaluate the relationship between drug response and side effect severity. Methods : A total of 144 children (ages 6-18) with diagnosed ADHD were treated with OROS-MPH. Children were examined at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of each treatment condition. The stimulant drug side effect rating scale (SERS), pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) were evaluated to assess side effect profiles. Changes in these parameters from baseline were examined and analyzed. Results : Anorexia (30.95%) and insomnia (13.10%) were the most commonly reported side effects during this study. Insomnia and loss of appetite score increased at one week follow-up, but was sustained or decreased as treatment progressed. Small but significant increases in pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure were observed during treatment ; however, no clinically meaningful changes in ECG parameters were noted during the study. Low body weight, high dosage of OROS-MPH, and family history of ADHD were associated with cardiovascular side effect. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between OROS-MPH treatment response and the severity of side effect and no difference resulted between the responder and non-responder groups with respect to OROS-MPH dosage in the 12 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion : To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first Korean study to investigate comprehensive side effect profiles and their correlates in OROS-MPH treatment for ADHD children. OROS-MPH was well tolerated with no clinically significant side effects during the treatment period. In conclusion, low body weight, high dosage of OROSMPH, and family history of ADHD could be used as predictive factors in increasing pulse rate and blood pressure.

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in functional impairment between children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and normal controls, and to compare the functional impairment across ADHD subtypes. Methods : Children and adolescents with ADHD between the ages of 6 and 18 years were recruited for the study. Parents and teachers of the ADHD subjects completed the parents` and teachers` forms of the Children and Adolescents Functioning Impairment Scale (CAFIS), respectively. The results of these scales were compared to those of normal controls. Results : Subjects included 110 children with ADHD, predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-IA) ; 23 with ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (ADHD-HI) ; and 60 ADHD, combined type (ADHD-C). When compared to 41 normal controls, there were significant differences in CAFIS-parent and CAFIS-teacher scales for the ADHD group. Functional impairment in the family relationship as rated by the parents was higher in children with ADHD-C when compared to that of children with ADHD-IA. Conclusion : In comparison to normal children, children with ADHD have a higher level of impairment in several functional areas, and differences exist in functional impairment across ADHD subtypes. Further, ratings of functional impairment between parents and teachers were inconsistent. Thus, gathering information from the teachers is important when diagnosing or establishing treatment regimens for ADHD.

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare levels of parenting stress and efficacy in mothers of children suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and internet addiction disorder (IAD), mothers of children with ADHD alone only, and those with normal children. Methods : Participants were composed of 25 mothers of children with ADHD and IAD, 35 mothers of children with ADHD alone, and 50 mothers of normal children. They completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC). Results : In comparison with the mothers of normal children, the mothers of children with ADHD and IAD and the mothers of children with ADHD alone showed significantly higher levels of parenting stress and lower parenting efficacy. However, a comparison of mothers of children with ADHD and IAD with those of children with ADHD alone did not show any significant differences in their levels of parenting stress or efficacy. Conclusion : Mothers of children with ADHD, regardless of the presence of IAD exhibited a higher level of parenting stress and a lower level of parenting efficacy than mothers of normal children.

Objectives : This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between internet game addiction and emotional and behavioral characteristics of students both in the 5th and 6th grade of elementary school and in middle school. Methods : Two elementary schools and two middle schools were chosen to participate. The students completed selfreport questionnaires designed by the authors, called the Internet Game Addiction Scale, Korean youth self-report (K-YSR). Results : Compared to previous studies, the rates of those in the obvious game addiction group were much lower in this study. We defined the upper 10% of internet game addiction scores as a high risk user group and the lower 10% as a control group. There were significant differences between the groups with respect to the the ages at which internet gaming began, the frequency of game play per week, and the average length of each game playing session. Significant associations were also found between the level of internet game addiction and the withdrawn and delinquency subscales of the K-YSR. However, the association between game addiction and the withdrawn subscale was found only in middle school students. Conclusion : The findings from this study suggested that withdrawn and delinquent behaviors could be predictors of internet game addiction. Results also suggested the importance of early childhood intervention for preventing the development of more severe psychopathology in early adolescence.

Objectives : The purpose of the current study was to evaluate subject quality of life in depressed parents of boys with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMB/ BMD). In addition, a specific relationship between subject quality of life and the severity of depressive symptom was explored. Methods : The participants were 15 depressed parents who had moderate to severe depressive symptoms and 35 nondepressed parents of boys with DMD/BMD. All participants completed the World Health Organization Quality Of Life Scale, Brief Version and the Beck Depression Inventory. Other instruments included the Family Relationship Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results : Among various model predictors, only higher score on the Beck Depression Inventory predicted lower scores on all domains of the World Health Organization Quality Of Life Scale, Brief Version. In addition, depressed parents had significantly lower scores on all domains of the World Health Organization Quality Of Life Scale, Brief Version including physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment, relative to non-depressed parents. Conclusion : Findings of the current study suggest that all domains of subjective quality of life may be influenced by depressive symptoms in parents of boys with DMD/BMD.